Minister of Higher Education Chairs the Supreme Council of Universities Meeting at Alexandria University

The Minister of Higher Education directed the following:
- Continued implementation of various student activity plans by universities.
- Ongoing support and discovery of talented, gifted, and innovative students, providing them with all necessary support.
The Minister of Higher Education praised:
- The community participation of universities in Mr. presidential initiative "A New Beginning for Human Development."
- The inclusion of 35 Egyptian universities in the Times Higher Education global ranking.
The Supreme Council of Universities held its regular meeting, chaired by Prof. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, today, Saturday, in the presence of Prof. Mostafa Rifaat, Secretary of the Council, and council members, at the headquarters of Alexandria University.
At the beginning of the meeting, the council observed a minute of silence for the souls of the students of Galala University. The minister and council members expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families of the students for their immense loss, praying for Allah's mercy for the deceased and for patience for their families.
The Minister of Higher Education informed the council about additional executive measures taken by Galala University in cooperation with state institutions to provide more housing opportunities for students, as well as to ensure safe transportation for students and support for injured students in the coming period.
The council thanked the family of Alexandria University, led by Prof. Abdelaziz Kanso, for hosting the Supreme Council of Universities meeting.
The council also congratulated Prof. Mohamed Sami Abdelsadiq on his appointment as President of Cairo University, wishing him continued success.
The Minister of Higher Education directed the holding of periodic workshops with university presidents to continue discussing and addressing global developments in higher education and scientific research in a rapidly changing global environment, ensuring that Egyptian universities keep pace with contemporary global advancements.
The Minister emphasized the importance of intensifying the implementation of various student activity plans (sports, artistic, cultural, and social) and supporting and discovering talented, gifted, and innovative students, providing them with all necessary support, receiving their research and innovative ideas, and working on their development to help turn their innovative ideas into marketable products competitively, thus creating marketing opportunities for them.
The Minister directed an increase in awareness and educational seminars for students, enhancing their sense of belonging, and intensifying awareness campaigns to combat concepts and ideas that contradict the tolerant religious beliefs and the authentic cultural and societal heritage of the Egyptian people.
The Minister stressed the need for universities to focus on scientific research and ideas that can be transformed into innovations and applicable products with economic returns for society, enhancing scientific and research cooperation between universities and the industrial and business community, as well as linking research products to industry and directing scientific research to serve society.
The Minister highlighted the importance of activating regional alliances signed between universities and productive and industrial institutions, implementing the regional alliances plan to support scientific research for industry and the national economy, addressing challenges facing different geographical regions across the republic, and supporting the transformation of educational institutions into innovative entities that attract distinguished scientific talents, in line with the presidential initiative "Alliance and Development," which enjoys the support and patronage of Mr. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and aligns with achieving the goals of the national strategy for higher education and scientific research.
Prof. Ayman Ashour praised the active participation of Egyptian universities in implementing the presidential initiative "A New Beginning for Human Development" noting that services have been provided to over 86,000 citizens from various age groups and social segments, with 64 comprehensive development caravans launched to serve Egyptians in centers, villages, and hamlets. The Minister emphasized the importance of continuing to launch developmental caravans to activate the role of universities in community service and environmental development across all governorates.
The Minister commended the inclusion of 35 Egyptian universities in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025 (general version) and directed that universities continue to support researchers to increase scientific publishing in prestigious journals to enhance the ranking of Egyptian universities in major global rankings.
The council listened to a report on the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's key activities during October, including a meeting between Prof. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, and Prof. Ayman Ashour to follow up on several ministry files.
Prof. Ayman Ashour presented the status of the new National Cancer Institute being established in Sheikh Zayed ("500 500 Hospital"), detailing the project's components and execution rates, as well as presenting the initial operational plan and the executive procedures for the presidential initiative "Knowledge Bank," aiming to link the Egyptian Knowledge Bank with the national strategy for higher education and scientific research.
Prof. Mostafa Madbouly also visited Tiba University of Technology, where he reviewed the university's educational capabilities and services, attended a lecture on wooden industry technology, and inspected the labs, and workshops.
The Minister reviewed the results of his visit to France, where he delivered Egypt's speech at the 220th session of the UNESCO Executive Council and conducted a site visit to the main campus of School 42 in Paris to learn about various unique international educational experiences for potential adaptation in the Egyptian education system, especially in technological education.
He also discussed ways to enhance cooperation between both sides. Prof. Ayman Ashour participated in the ministerial conference organized by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie during the fourth edition of the Global Week of Scientific Francophonie held in Toulouse, France, and met with the French Minister of Higher Education to discuss numerous topics to enhance cooperation between the two countries in higher education and scientific research, including joint degrees, increasing student exchange, implementing joint research, and collaborating in developing technological education.
The Minister of Higher Education met with the Minister of State for Military Production to discuss various topics of mutual cooperation. Prof. Ayman Ashour received the Chairman of the General Authority for Comprehensive Health Insurance to enhance cooperation between the two sides to support efforts to advance the comprehensive health insurance system in Egypt, discussing mechanisms for joint cooperation between university hospitals and the General Authority for Comprehensive Health Insurance, as well as exploring ways to maximize the participation of university hospitals in the comprehensive health insurance system.
The Minister met with the Dean of the Business School at the University of Aberdeen in the UK and his accompanying delegation to discuss prospects for cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the University of Aberdeen to open a branch in Egypt, as well as discussing the latest developments to complete the cooperation agreement in research projects that serve the state's sustainable development goals.
Prof. Ayman Ashour visited injured students from Galala University at the Suez Medical Complex to check on their well-being and directed that all necessary medical and psychological support be provided to them and their university colleagues after their discharge from the hospital to help them recover from the accident's effects.
The Minister inspected the university hospital at Suez University to monitor the ongoing preparations for the hospital to start receiving patients and providing medical services to citizens in the coming period.
Prof. Ayman Ashour attended a workshop titled "Investment in Higher Education and Scientific Research," with the presence of university presidents and ministry leaders to discuss investment opportunities in higher education and showcase university experiences in developing financial resources, benefiting the educational and research system in Egypt in the future.
Prof. Ayman Ashour chaired the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fulbright Educational and Cultural Exchange Commission between Egypt and the United States to discuss preparations for celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the commission. The report noted that several meetings and discussions were held with foreign officials to explore mechanisms for enhancing joint scientific and research cooperation.
Prof. Adel Abdel-Ghaffar, media advisor and official spokesperson for the ministry, stated that the council honored Prof. Nihal Al-Sheqnaqiri, a professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Alexandria University, in recognition of her efforts in providing health, treatment, and educational services to the community in her field of specialization. She has set an exemplary model of dedication and commitment to her work, contributing to thousands of surgical operations for underprivileged children from Alexandria and other provinces free of charge, and has helped transform the pediatric ophthalmology unit at the main university hospital into a new center of excellence in eye surgeries at Alexandria University.
The official spokesperson added that the council followed up on the efforts of the committee headed by Prof. Abdelaziz Tantawy, President of New Valley University, regarding the updates on the implementation of the cooperation protocol signed between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and New Valley Governorate at the level of public universities, to allocate 16,000 acres for a partnership project between universities to utilize it in scientific research, increase the productivity of strategic crops per acre, and prepare a comprehensive and integrated vision for this project.
The council approved the inclusion of Prof. Ayman Farid, Acting Head of the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector, in the Cultural Relations Committee of the Council's Secretariat.